Consider this the Magic throwing cold water on the process they thought was getting overheated. It happens as the New Jersey Nets were working hard to put together the framework of a three-team deal that also included the Portland Trail Blazers and would have sent Gerald Wallace, Brook Lopez and more (including picks) to the Magic. Portland was to get a number of first-round picks back and the Nets would have gotten the star they needed to pair with Deron Williams.

The Lakers also are supposed to be in the mix for Howard, but would not surrender both Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. (The Lakers are reportedly using Gasol as part of a package as they try to obtain Chris Paul.)

The other two teams on the list where Howard had said he would sign an extension are Dallas — which does not have the assets to make a trade and would need to sign him as a free agent next summer when they have cap space — and the Magic themselves.

The Magic are trying to slow everything down. The process they can do that with, the rumor mill is another matter. In the end, if they can’t re-sign Howard to an extension (and that is not looking likely) they have to trade him or watch him walk for nothing, just like happened with Shaquille O’Neal. But the Magic have wanted to take their time with this from the start, this move fits in with that.

The magic just made a stupid decision,they could have got bynam and gasol for howard and they couldnt make it happen.Howard will leave after season ends what part of that dont orlando understand????Everbody leaves that city

I agree, they should have leveraged Howard against Paul for the Lakers. They can’t have both, so they need to pick. Trade both Gasol AND Bynum for one or the other. There is no other way either trade would be viable.

Gasol AND Bynum have to go to get either in. Both. for one. or the other.

You people are silly, did you suddenly just start believing everything you read?

here’s the best way to sum everything up about this article with an “If” and a “Then” statement

“If the Magic have ended all trade talks for Dwight Howard”

1. “Then the Magic have a deal in place to trade Howard now, midseason, or end of the season”
2. “Then the Magic have come to terms with losing Howard at the end of this year and rebuilding”
3. “Then the Magic are waiting for better deals to come in”

4. “Then the Magic and Howard have agreed to an extension (and future moves to improve the team) and will announce he’s staying when the PR opportunity is best… on Christmas Day.”

BTW, for the idiot that says “everybody leaves that city”, you ever been to Orlando? One of the best cities in America to live. I’m 2 hours west of there, but have many friends with enormous houses that back up to lakes there. Let me know if your house has jet skis and fishing boats docked behind it. A lot of them in Orlando do, especially in Howard’s neighborhood. Oh yeah, and the sun only shines about 363 days a year here. Pretty ignorant comment you posted.

Are we positive all superstars will take the paycut to leave for bigger cities and brighter lights? As a GM you’re always better off try to build around a superstar. I think you can make a real argument that a GM in this position is better off rolling the dice and betting the superstar won’t take the paycut. I know Lebron did, but not every superstars endorsement portofolio is as big as Lebron’s.

The Magic will def. listen to any offers that will come in.. I agree with the Magic there is absolutely no rush to trade him now.. They might as well wait till the deadline to see the differences or strengths and weaknesses of Lopez or Bynum. Will Bynum stay healthy or will Lopez actually grab a rebound this year. Both guys will still be available at the deadline and if they both are awful/injured they will have a lot more options.